Punk Rock Bowling 2025 and The Vegas Punk Community
All Photos and Write Up by David "Widgit" McMillan of Stoned Spider Photography
Dedicated to Jeannie. Your absence was felt by many
LAS VEGAS, NV -- Memorial weekend is that special time of year where Downtown Las Vegas overflows with spiked colorful hair and studded jackets and vests. That can only mean its Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival.
Being of the punk persuasion myself, this is one of my favorite festivals to attend. I not only get to see legendary punk bands like The Adicts and Cocksparrer but also bands I'm not as familiar with like Upchuck and Shitfire.
Hearing bands for the first time in a live setting gives me a different perspective on the music.
The festivities are three days long, and they start early in morning on some days...early for for most punx that is.
A typical day can look like this:
9am - Pool party
12pm - Head into the all day fest
10pm - Cap it all off with late night club shows that can go until 3am or later
This means there are plenty of chances to catch multiple bands. This gives everyone the opportunity to either see their favorites more than once or catch a variety throughout the weekend.
One thing I love about Punk Rock Bowling is the people. Not only do I see a lot of people I know, but I also make new friends every year.
This festival brings people together from all over the world. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your background is we're all there for one reason. Our love of punk music and the culture that surrounds it.
This year was a little different. I got to see some good friends like Terror Attack and The Rifleman share the same stages as iconic bands like The Damned and Bouncing Souls. At the same time, I got to see some personal favorites such as Bridge City Sinners and Amigo the Devil.
Punk Rock Bowling is a variety of music and people like no other. I highly recommend that if you've never attended, do yourself a favor and go.
Between awesome music and amazing people you won't regret it. Keep the music and culture we all love alive. Support live music especially in a local scale, it's what keeps it alive and thriving.